A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast LuAnn Nigara

Today With John Dupra:
Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. For today’s Sponsored Show, I am so happy to welcome back John Dupra of Revel Woods. 
John also gives great tips on how he has had strategic partnerships in his business from the beginning, which he will even say is why he is still here today. He shares how to leverage those relationships in your business and the tactical strategies to make the most of them and show up as an excellent strategic partner.
There is definitely a “right” way to develop and maintain these relationships, and if you are wondering how, John’s brain is the one you will want to pick on this topic.
LuAnn Nigara and John Dupra's Ah-Ha Moments:
“Part of what I've been able to do and what many successful people do is increase your luck surface area. You're not going to be able to brute force your way into everything all the time. Sometimes, you will randomly be at an event, a party, or a LuAnn Live, and meet somebody who will change your life and career forever,” - John Dupra
“When you’re within a respectful partnership, you’re doing something for them, and the next day they are doing something for you, and nobody is keeping score.” - LuAnnn Nigara
More About John Dupra
John Dupra (pronounced DU-pray)’s father Craig started in the wood flooring business before John was born as an installer and refinisher, which he did for 24 years before eventually opening his own wholesale wood flooring distribution company in Rochester, NY.
John grew up helping his father when not in school before taking a job for Saint-Gobain, a large materials manufacturing company that made sundries for the flooring industry. He traveled the country as a sales engineer working with flooring contractors for eight years before deciding to join the family business in wholesale distribution.
It was there John saw the need to evolve the industry, by evolving its sales channels. If the correct platform was built, designers would be just as integral a part of the flooring industry as flooring stores. Making flooring a lucrative avenue for the designer, while providing a better experience to their clients. Revel Woods is that platform. Now designers are empowered to add flooring to their projects in a way that’s never been seen before.
His favorite podcast to be on is A Well Designed Business and he doesn’t care who knows it.
Connect with John Dupra
Website
Instagram
Facebook
Pinterest
A Big THANK YOU to Today’s Podcast Sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Revel Woods
Other Shows Mentioned:
AWDB: #329: Power Talk Friday: John Dupra – Revel Woods Launches New To The Trade Program
AWDB: #555: Sarah Daniele: 19H The Blueprint, Create Resiliency in Your Business
AWDB: #632: Power Talk Friday: John Dupra: Taking The Fear Out of Flooring for Interior Designers
AWDB: 709: Jenny and Ben Slingerland of Black Ink Interiors: The Stages and Decisions to Grow Your Design Business
AWDB: #722: Power Talk Friday: Duke Renders: How to Incorporate 3D Renderings into Your Interior Design Business
AWDB: #823: Power Talk Friday: Duke Renders: A Case Study For a Successful Business Plan
AWDB: #879: Power Talk Friday: Sarah Daniele: Mydoma Studio and the Business of Change as the Interior Design Industry Enters a Digital Transformation
AWDB: #883: Power Talk Friday: Aubre Fox: Increase Your Profit and Create Your Own Flooring Collection With Revel Woods
AWDB: #905: Power Talk Friday: Duke Renders: Why Successful Design Firms Choose Duke Renders for Their Rendering Projects
AWDB: #951: Power Talk Friday: Duke Renders: More Interior Designers Share the Value Of Using Duke Renders For Your Rendering Projects
AWDB: #919: Window Treatment Friday: Sara Lynn Brennan: How to Sell Window Treatments in Your Full Service Interior Design Projects
AWDB: #607: Sara Lynn Brennan: Project Management with Specific Deliverables and Deadlines

Today With Libby Langdon:
Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Many designers are interested in licensing…but how do you set yourself up for deals? Where do you find an agent? And how do you create something companies will be interested in?
My guest today, Libby Langdon, has carved out success for herself in licensing, making it not just a one-off collection but an ongoing, viable revenue stream. Today, she’s here to share her tips for how designers can set themselves up for licensing partnerships.
LuAnn Nigara and Libby Langdon's Ah-Ha Moments
“You have to have a promotional platform of some sort. It’s paramount. There’s absolutely no reason for a manufacturer to partner with a designer unless the designer has a voice, has an audience, knows their lane, and is ready to get out and promote it. They need to know that you can bring them a new audience.” -Libby
“You have to have self-awareness and bring new unique ideas to the table. But it also has to be designed at a price point that fits the company you’re working for.” -LuAnn
More About Libby Langdon
Libby Langdon is an interior designer, author, product designer and makeover television personality, as well as the creative force behind New York City–based design firm Libby Interiors, Inc. She is known for her “Easy, Elegant, Everyday Style,” as well as her licensed home-furnishing collections, including a complete home collection of upholstery and casegoods for Fairfield Chair, lighting for Crystorama, artwork for Paragon, and accessories for A&B Home. Her interior design work and home products have been featured in leading shelter magazines, including Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Traditional Home, Hamptons Cottages & Gardens, Better Homes and Gardens, and Woman’s Day. Langdon has been a regular design expert on NBC’s TODAY Show, HGTV’s Small Space, Big Style, The View, The Rachael Ray Show, The Early Show and NBC’s Open House. Langdon travels the country presenting her design seminars to consumers, designers, and retailers about all things design.
Connect with Libby Langdon
Website
Instagram 
Facebook 
YouTube
Pinterest
What’s new with LuAnn Nigara
The Power Talk Friday Tour
Watch the Docuseries!
http://www.luannnigara.com/cob
Get The Goodies!
For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here. To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!
Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:
Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Audiobook: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts
Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2
Connect with LuAnn Nigara
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Blog
Power Talk Friday
Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast
Other Resources Mentioned:
The Power Talk Friday Tour
LuAnn's Hiring Toolkit Bundle

Today With Laura Koshel:
Today’s Power Talk Friday is another episode of our Live, On-Air Strategy Sessions!
I am welcoming Laura Koshel, the owner and principal designer at LK Design, an interior design firm based in Durham, NC.
Laura wants to know what she should know about scaling her business and her team. Learn how having wonderful employees is a great beginning but having clarity is among you is the key. Listen in to see what I mean.
LuAnn Nigara and Laura Koshel's Ah-Ha Moments:
“If you plan on having a team of five to eight employees, you need to clarify your standards in an SOP, so every step is clear and accessible,” - LuAnn Nigara
“When you have a documented process that explains to your employees how you do things, along with weekly check -ins, things rarely wiggy,” - LuAnn Nigara
More About Laura Koshel
Laura Koshel is the owner and the principal designer at LK Design, an interior design firm based in Durham, NC. Laura was born in Lithuania and grew up in St Petersburg, Russia. When Laura moved to USA in 2005, she decided to nurture her creative and organizational skills by joining a national decorating franchise and becoming an independent interior decorator. It was a great learning journey for someone coming into the interior design industry, with basic sales skills, and new to the American culture. 2008 came and hit the young business hard. In 2010 Laura and her husband welcomed their son. They decided to close the franchise and dedicate Laura’s next 5 years to raising their son. In 2015 Laura longed to go back to the interior design industry, and so established LK Design.
Today, together with her two assistants, Laura helps her clients to navigate their residential and light commercial design projects with ease. LK Design has been voted by readers of the Durham Magazine Best of Durham 6 years in a row.
For Laura, the most joyful work moments are when a job is done well, clients are happy, expectations are exceeded, trades and vendors are treated with respect, as well as seeing how her team grows professionally. She credits her own growth in part to the openness of the industry today and to the resources available to the designers, including LuAnn’s podcast, that were not available decades ago.
When work and life balance is in place, Laura enjoys family and social times, variety of physical activities, including endurance sports, travel, sailing, reading, cooking, and moments when the mind wonders around.
Connect with Laura Koshel
Website
Instagram 
Facebook 
Houzz
Yelp
What’s new with LuAnn Nigara
The Power Talk Friday Tour
Watch the Docuseries!
http://www.luannnigara.com/cob
Get The Goodies!
For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here. To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!
Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:
Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Audiobook: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts
Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2
Connect with LuAnn Nigara
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Blog
Power Talk Friday
Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast
Other Resources Mentioned:
LuAnn's Hiring Toolkit Bundle
Power Talk Friday Tour
Other Shows Mentioned:
AWDB #363 Power Talk Friday: Eileen Hahn: Building An Exceptional Interior Design Team
AWDB #589 Power Talk Friday: Eileen Hahn: Scaling from 2 Million to 5 Million
AWDB #811 Power Talk Friday: Heather Hansen: You Are Your Own Advocate
AWDB #825 Power Talk Friday: Cheryl Clendenon: The Design Paradigm – Creating a Strong Framework For Your Interior Design Business

Today With Chloe Bullock:
Today with Chloe Bullock, we explore the world of sustainable and conscious interior design. As an award-winning, B Corp Certified, BIID Registered Interior Designer based in Brighton, UK, Chloe shares her journey from being my first ever coaching client to becoming a pioneer in vegan and sustainable design.
In this episode, Chloe reflects on finding her authentic voice and niche in sustainable design, and we discuss her new book, "Sustainable Interior Design." Chloe's passion for educating clients and fellow designers about the power of making conscious choices shines through as she shares insights on embracing the circular economy, supporting local craftsmanship, and aligning personal values with design practice. She emphasizes the ripple effect that even small sustainable choices can have on the industry as a whole.
LuAnn Nigara and Chloe Bullock's Ah-Ha Moments
“Don't be afraid to claim your niche. You're so much louder in a small space — when it's the space that means something to you.” - LuAnn Nigara
“I think sustainability can be quite complicated, but actually, in places, it's super simple. And half the time we're doing a lot of these things already.” - Chloe Bullock
“I don't want to bring that [misery] to my clients when I can bring them next generation materials…bio based materials, things that are problem solving and beautiful and have lovely storytelling — because we all love to tell a story about the things that we have around us in our homes.” - Chloe Bullock
More About Chloe Bullock
Brighton's award-winning, B Corp Certified, BIID Registered Interior Designer®
Offering advice and design of low impact interiors, products and communities. Working to improve the sustainability of fellow designers work and businesses, and manufacturers on their products.
Working within the circular economy and avoiding the use of animals, delivering healthy spaces centred around the humans using them. Design where nature and humans thrive.
Connect with Chloe Bullock
Website
Chloe's Book 'Sustainable Interior Design' commissioned by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)
Instagram
LinkedIn
Resources
Interior Design Declares UK designers join 
Other countries - set up a Declare for your country 
BIID Sustainable Specifying Guide
British Institute of Interior Design
Deborah Di Mare's website: Vegan Design
What’s new with LuAnn Nigara
The Power Talk Friday Tour
Watch the Docuseries!
http://www.luannnigara.com/cob
Get The Goodies!
For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here. To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!
Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:
Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Audiobook: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts
Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2
Connect with LuAnn Nigara
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Blog
Power Talk Friday
Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast
Other Resources Mentioned:
The Power Talk Friday Tour
Mydoma: Get 20% off your first three months by going to mydomastudio.com/awelldesignedbusiness
Other Shows Mentioned:
#15: Nancy Ganzekaufer- Niche is Rich
#82: Deborah Rosenberg – Tailoring Your Interior Design Firm to Your Core Beliefs
#117: Power Talk Friday: Deborah Rosenberg- Cruelty Free Design Certification is Here!
#174: Power Talk Friday- Fred Berns- Own Your “Only” Word & Tips to Discover Yours
#282: Blanche Garcia – You Teach Clients How to Treat You
#526: Jaipur Living, CEO Asha Chaudhary
#757: Power Talk Friday: Nitesh Chaudhary: Jaipur Living: The Manchaha Initiative
#965: Mona Nahm: Equitable Design for People and the Planet

Today With Evelyn Roberts and Shayna Pellino:
Today, on A Well-Designed Business, our Power Talk Friday is sponsored by 4DBiz. We had Evelyn Roberts and Shayna Pellino of 4DBiz on the podcast last year to talk about the virtual assistant team division of their business, that supports your interior design business in marketing, admin, and design. 
After the impressive outpour from designers, they are back to talk about the services they offer as the executive team to solidify your foundation.
Pick It Apart
[1:43] Evelyn and Shayna explain what the executive division of their team entails.
[10:42] Shayna shares an example of when a consumer could get, what she calls, crooked. 
[14:43] Evelyn provides comfort and facts for those nervous about “automation.” 
[30:29] The benefits of having a team, rather than a “you” and the lesson Shayna learned.
[34:12] Always thinking about your competition.
[36:45] How 4DBiz’s executive team helps you build your own team.
LuAnn Nigara, Evelyn Roberts and Shayna Pellino's Ah-Ha Moments:
“We’re a great partnership where Shayna will help you look at your business from the lens of you as the business owner I will help you look at it from the lens of your client,” - Evelyn Roberts
"As a designer, you have seven million avenues of business going on at once, but you still need to run the ship and there still needs to be an internal operation your team can live by.” - Shayna Pellino
“Good design cannot be overcome by bad process.” - LuAnn Nigara
More About Evelyn Roberts and Shayna Pellino
Shayna Rose
Shayna Rose is the CEO and Founder of both Shayna Rose Interiors and 4Dbiz. Shayna never expected to create the modern business model that would change the way interior designers run their business! 4Dbiz was born out of her own experience, failures, successes, and needs as an interior designer/business owner.
After working in the interior design industry for three years, Shayna knew she had to set out on her own. Working for someone else, Shayna was astounded by the unnecessary obstacles that she was working with - from overly-extended lead times, to a lack of custom solutions, to poor service all along the supply chain. She truly felt she had no choice but to start her own business and revolutionize the industry standard.
In 2017, Shayna Rose Interiors was born, followed by 4Dbiz in 2019. Shayna’s guiding principle is “Everyone wins.” She is most inspired by what other people see as problems. She is a solution-oriented visionary, hell bent on changing people’s lives with her ideas and execution - starting with the design industry.

Evelyn Roberts
Evelyn Roberts is the Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer of 4Dbiz. After 4 years working in digital marketing for small businesses and tech startups, Evelyn joined Shayna Rose Interiors in 2019. Since then, she has been focused exclusively on marketing for interior designers.
Working with design businesses all over the country, she helps interior designers refine their brand, create concise and powerful messaging, optimize for search engines, and set up automations that save time and achieve results.
Evelyn’s philosophy for marketing in the interior design industry is “less is more.” Understanding the hectic interior designer/business owner lifestyle, she helps designers hone in on the marketing initiatives that will make measurable progress toward their most critical business goals, within their budget.
Connect with Evelyn Roberts and Shayna Pellino
Website
Facebook 
Client testimonial, Hannah Lowe Interiors
Client testimonial, Leone Interior Designs
A Big THANK YOU to Today’s Podcast Sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by 4DBiz.
Other Shows Mentioned:
AWDB: #923 Power Talk Friday: Evelyn Roberts & Shayna Pellino: A Virtual Team for Your Interior Design Business

Today With Brett and Giselle Sugerman:
Today on A Well-Designed Business, I am joined by Brett Sugerman and Giselle Loor Sugerman, founders of B+G Design, Inc., an award-winning Miami-based interior design firm. They are here to spill the tea on their journey to success, as well as, how you can present your authentic brand to attract the right clients.
LuAnn Nigara and Brett and Giselle Sugerman's Ah-Ha Moments
“When we decided to open up our company, we did it for the love and the passion of our craft. We really wanted to do projects that we were excited about and that reflected our personal taste,” - Giselle Loor Sugerman
More About Brett and Giselle Sugerman
B+G Design, Inc. is an award-winning Miami-based interior design firm founded by Brett Sugerman and Giselle Loor Sugerman. The highly sought-after luxury design firm is recognized for their innovative bespoke interiors that exude their signature aesthetic combining functional minimalism with a warm contemporary appeal.
From their home base in Miami to projects in New York, D.C., Aspen, Los Angeles and abroad, their team’s modern and elevated designs are timeless, seamlessly blending clean lines with luxe finishes, natural materials, and pared down color palettes. Taking inspiration from their travels, Brett and Giselle incorporate their one-of-a-kind furniture and lighting designs with chic pieces and sculptural elements that translate into distinctive environments integrating form and function.
Featured on NBC, CBS and HGTV, the husband-and-wife team are considered leaders in the industry, frequently sharing their design expertise across multiple media platforms. B+G projects have been featured in AD Pro, AD Mexico, Aspire, Business of Home, Casa Vogue Brazil, Florida Design, Interior Design, Luxe, Mansion Global, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times among many others. They are recipients of the Luxe magazine RED Awards for Best Interior Design; ASID South Florida Design Excellence Award and their lighting design won a Best of Year nomination with Interior Design magazine. Featured by 1st Dibs, they are on the “Designers to Watch List” and are among Ocean Home’s Top Coastal Designers.
Connect with Brett and Giselle Sugerman
Website
B and G Unfiltered
Beyond Design
Instagram
What’s new with LuAnn Nigara
The Power Talk Friday Tour
Watch the Docuseries!
http://www.luannnigara.com/cob
Get The Goodies!
For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here. To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!
Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:
Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Audiobook: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts
Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2
Connect with LuAnn Nigara
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Blog
Power Talk Friday
Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast
Other Resources Mentioned:
Go to kravet.com and use our code AWDB10 get 10% off on any one order of Kravet fabric, wallpaper or trim
The Power Talk Friday Tour
Other Shows Mentioned:
AWDB #953: Power Talk Friday: Raj Banyopadhyay: Connecting With Your Audience Through Personal Branding Photography
AWDB #979: Hygge Design + Build: Becky and Nate Vandenbroek on Tips for a Successful Design/Build Business
WTFP #269: Bound by Business: Working With the In-Laws
WTFP #272: Bound by Business: Working With a Parent or Child